Unity

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud

Massive hoofbeats could be heard right outside the still closed doors leading to the Sun Court. Those nearest the portals took hesitant steps backward, as though expecting the door to come blasting off its hinges at any moment. Celestia narrowed her eyes sharply. She felt calm, serene, as she readied a spell to protect her subjects. Princess Luna, on the other hand, was staring at the doors with something close to awed excitement. She had actually risen from her spot next to her sister and was almost leaning forward with anticipation. The respective leaders of the other nations were more reserved, tilting heads at the shuddering hoofbeats. Then the double doors leading into the room swung open gently, and the entire room seemed to hold its breath.

A changeling so large it looked like it should be illegal stood between the portals. The changeling was every bit as big as Blockade, one of Celestia’s pegasus captains. Two giant axes were slung casually across the changeling’s back, and four hoof boots covered its hooves, sparking with visible magic. The giant held itself easily, proudly, not at all concerned that it had just walked into Princess Celestia’s Sun Court. It advanced forward slowly, so as not to startle the stunned guards still within the room. As it moved forward, another, smaller changeling followed at its side. This one wore the same boots, and carried what appeared to be a stun baton. Following these two was a unicorn with what appeared to be a prosthetic limb. All it took was a single glance for Celestia to know that this was a Nomad, one of the tribes of the desert outside of her influence and protection. Celestia also felt a small stirring of recognition. The way the unicorn unconsciously carried herself, a slight tilt of the jaw... it felt so familiar, but the Sun Monarch had no idea why. As she examined the non-changeling further, Celestia also discovered that this mare was not pure pony. She was part machine. Celestia blinked at that thought. She had never heard such a thing. But her Instinct, the same Instinct that knew all of her subjects by name, told her it was true.

Following after the nomad came a zebra. A seer, if her violet eyes were anything to go by. To Celestia, a zebra following a posse of changelings was not all that important, as, right next to the zebra.... was Rainbow Dash. It took every ounce of Celestia’s formidable willpower not to gasp and blast the one-time Element of Loyalty on sight. She could deal with standard changelings, for the most part. But this.... this was too much. They had turned one of her most loyal subjects into a love sucking parasite. Rainbow Dash was clad in form fitting silver armor and matching hoof coverings. Wing blades covered her wings, which were held loosely extended, as though warning potential attackers to just back off. To complete the outfit, Rainbow Dash was wearing one of the cloaks Princess Luna had given to her champions of the Unity Chalice. But that was not what drew Celestia’s attention. It was the flier in general. Gone was the silky smooth coat. Instead, the same chitin that covered changelings added another layer of protection onto Dash, cyan blue like her fur had been. Her wings were another oddity. Instead of the gossamer variety of changelings, these wings were like the wings of any other pegasus, but longer and more powerful looking. Dash lacked a horn, but Celestia doubted that would affect Dash’s own brand of magic.

But the changes wrought onto Rainbow Dash was nothing compared to who stepped out from behind her guards. Twilight Sparkle was barely even recognizable. She looked much the same as Rainbow Dash, but with subtle differences. While her lavender coat was now comprised of chitin, that was about as far as similarities between the two got. Firstly, Twilight was taller. Not nearly as tall as Princess Celestia, but tall enough it made her look like royalty. Secondly, her mane was different. It was still the three tone purple, pink, and blue, but it now gleamed with little motes of magical energy. A curtain of it also swept down to cover her left eye, much like the nomad’s did. Her horn was longer, jutting proudly from her head, and Celestia felt a slight twinge of jealousy; Twilight had a horn every bit as long as her mentor’s! Twilight’s wings were also unusual. They were gossamer, like any other changeling, but these wings were definitely shaped like an Imperial pegasus, designed for speed and long flights. Like Rainbow Dash, Twilight was dressed in obsidian black armor that hugged her form, and matching shoes. The Element of Magic sat atop her head, but it was no longer a simple tiara. It had changed into a full blown crown, simple yet efficient at marking her as an important ruler. But to cap it all, Twilight’s biggest change was how she carried herself. Gone was the little scholar who had once walked these halls. In its place, stood a Queen. Twilight carried herself with unmatched grace and poise, each step flowing smoothly into the next. Princess Celestia could tell what it was: The fluid movement of a battle seasoned commander.

The entire room was silent. Twilight’s eyes never wavered from her mentor and second mother. The new Queen took a step. Then another, and another, before launching herself towards Celestia in what was supposed to be a sobbing hug. Unfortunately, every pony guard in the room decided that Twilight was attacking the Princess. Twilight’s gaze only tore from Celestia’s when she noticed a Xenith Legionnaire bearing down upon her, sword raised. Twilight arched an eyebrow at the guard, as if to ask, Really? She then promptly sidestepped the incapacitating stroke of the guard, so that his attack went wide and left him unguarded. Twilight planted her front hooves and swept her body around, knocking the unprepared pegasus off his hooves with her rear legs. As Twilight completed this movement, Celestia noticed a giant broadsword slung flat across the mare’s back. Off to one side, the giant changeling parried an axe stroke of another guard with nothing more than its bare chitin. It then retaliated by shoving the guard back into the wall. As Princess Luna’s Nadir Wings rushed to help, the Night Goddess spoke.

“Nadir Wings, stand down! You are not to attack!” As one, Luna’s guards returned to where they had been previously, though with tension lining their bodies.

Celestia decided it was time to intervene. “Legionnaire, stand down!” Surveying the damage before her, Celestia noted it was a completely pointless order anyway. The Xenith Legionnaire who had attacked were all down for the count, unconscious or trying to limp away from the changelings. Not a single weapon the changelings had drawn, using nothing but their hooves and bodies to defend themselves. For a brief moment, Celestia felt a flash of admiration. But it was quickly doused by cold determination, and something else. Anger. Boiling, white hot anger that Princess Celestia had not felt in a long time. As the changelings started to move forward again, the Sun Monarch spoke again.

“Stay where you are. Do not come a single step closer.” She glared out at the Queen. “What exactly are you doing here, monster? Answer me truthfully, and maybe I won't smite you down where you stand.”

The entire Day Court was silent. The guards and soldiers were carefully silent, but Princess Luna and the other leaders were all staring incredulously at Celestia.

Twilight Sparkle froze, her eyes widening slightly. “Princess? What do you mean?”

“Do not play coy with me, changeling. I want to know why you and your ilk are in my Court.”

Tears began to well up in Twilight Sparkle’s eyes. Before she could speak, Luna interposed herself.

“What are thou doing, sister? That is your own student you are talking to!”

Celestia turned to regard her sibling coldly. “That is not my student. That is a changeling. Queen or not, changelings have been pronounced as enemies of the Crown. They should not be here.”

“Tia! That ‘changeling’ is Twilight Sparkle, Element of Harmony! She--”

“Whatever she had once been she is no longer. Legionnaire! Escort these changelings out of my palace.”

The words had barely left Celestia’s mouth before the doors of the Sun Court slammed open yet again. “Belay that order, Legionnaires!”

Instantly, every last one of Celestia’s guards halted and stood at stiff attention. Prince Regent Shining Armor strode through the doorway, Princess Cadance at his side and a half dozen Crystal Knights behind them. More crystal ponies could be seen in the hallway before the doors swung closed for the third time. Celestia whirled upon her old captain eyes narrowed in challenge. Shining Armor had never seen the Sun Princess like this before.

“Ignore him! Remove these parasites from my vicinity!” Not a single Xenith Legionnaire moved. The unwavering will of Shining kept them in place.

Shining moved closer. “This is what happens when you decide that I can still command the Legion in addition to my duties to the Crystal Kingdom, Celestia.”

“Shining, I’m only going to tell you once. I want these changelings gone.”

Shining looked his old Princess directly in the eyes. “No. That is my sister you are trying to turn away, before she even has a chance to tell her story. Even if you no longer see her as your beloved student or the Element of Magic, she is still my sister. No changelings can change that. If you want her gone, then the Crystal Empire will follow her.”

Celestia said nothing. A distant part of her knew she was being foalish, but the rest didn’t care. These were the monsters that had sided against her with Nightmare Moon. These insects had attacked her subjects without hesitation, turning against those who had once been friends. She had hoped things would be different, before she had seen the new Queen. But now, all Celestia saw was another hated changeling. The same one who had betrayed her all those years ago. Whatever the creature before her was, it was not Twilight Sparkle. Celestia had seen the changes. Saw how it walked. This was not her student. Only another monster.

After several more agonizing moments of silence, Twilight Sparkle drew herself up to her full height. “Come, my kin. We are unwanted here. Let us return to Hive and plan out next course of action. We still have a rogue changeling to deal with.”

Without another word, Twilight and her posse turned and exited the Sun Court. Shining Armor, Cadance, and their Crystal Knights followed suit. Shining was determined to hear his sister’s side of the story. Cadance paused at the doors and glanced back at Celestia for a long, hard, moment. Then she too was gone. Then, much to Celestia’s surprise, Princess Luna stood up and whirled to face her sister. “I think I shall follow them, sister.”

Celestia’s expression hardened again. “I will not allow my sister to go tramping off after a bunch of changelings.”

Luna shoved her face into Celestia’s. “Watch me, Celestia. I understand the pain you are feeling. I do. But those perceived wrongs happened over a thousand years ago by a monarch who was determined to do what was best for her pony allies: Saving me from the Nightmare. Summerdew knew that Equestria needed both of their rulers. Did you ever stop to ask yourself how the First Queen of the Changelings felt, turning upon her former allies while following the orders of the Nightmare? She followed the Nightmare’s wishes because she wanted to find a way to save me from myself. Then you destroyed her, and nearly all of her people. You were blinded by hurt back then, and you are blinded by hurt now. If you do not watch where you tread, sister, you will end up welcoming the Nightmare into your own heart.”

With those last words, Princess Luna turned heel, waved at the Nadir Wings to follow, and departed the Sun Court.

* * *

Twilight Sparkle was heartbroken. And to make matters worse, the entire Swarm felt her distress. The changelings with her were drooping, weariness outlining their every movement. Even the titanic Blockade seemed smaller than what she had been. Rainbow Dash was just as bad. While she still stood by Twilight’s side, her proud stance was gone. The cyan changeling’s ears lay flat against her skull and her wings fairly dragged the ground. Flicka was silently fuming over the reception they had received, and Nailiah had no idea how to help make things better. The little party continued on, ignoring the stares at the startled voices they attracted. No one stopped them as they made their way to the outskirts of Canterlot. Well, except one voice.

“Twilight!” the voice called, as familiar as Twilight’s magic. “Twiley! Wait!”

Twilight paused, turned, and was immediately assaulted by her big brother. The new changeling Queen was hugging her brother before she could even register what she was doing, fresh tears staining the stallion’s coat. Shining stroked his sister as Cadance snuggled close too, trying to offer as much support as she possibly could.

“I’m sorry,” Twilight sniffed. “I didn’t mean to cry. I just... I had thought everything would be better if I went to Celestia.”

A new voice interrupted. “Under ordinary circumstances, Twilight Sparkle, things would have been better after you went to my sister.”

Twilight looked up, wiping away more tears. “Princess Luna!”

A ghost of a smile touched Luna’s lips. “Just call me Luna, and I shall only call you Twilight. As I was saying, none of what happened is your fault. Celestia is still hurting for what happened over a thousand years ago.”

“You mean... when Summerdew sided with Nightmare Moon?”

“Sadly, yes. In all of my years, it has been a long time since I’ve seen Tia so irrational. You cannot and should not be held responsible for what transpired over a thousand years ago. Nor should you be blamed for the invasion of Canterlot. You’re Twilight Sparkle. I believe that you will make a much better Queen than Chrysalis.”

“That’s nice and all, Princess,” Rainbow Dash finally spoke, her normally chipper tone dull. “But it doesn’t change the fact that Celestia and the rest of Equestria want nothing to do with us.”

Princess Luna turned to the chromatic flier, studying her with interest. “I cannot say that I’ve ever seen anypony like you, Rainbow Dash. And your statement is not true.” At this, Luna gestured behind her. Bat ponies took up a vast majority of the street behind them, ignoring the curious looks of other passerby. “My bat ponies are grateful for the dedication Summerdew showed us all that time ago. Our Sister may not like it, but we are willing to be allies of the Swarm.”

“So too is the Crystal Kingdom, Twiley.” Cadance spoke next. “You’re still my little sister, you know. Anyone can see that.”

“But... what about Princess Celestia... she hates me now.”

Luna frowned thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t say she hates you. Not entirely. It would take a massive effort to show her that you are still the same Twilight Sparkle you always have been, but I believe it could be done.”

“Maybe.” Twilight allowed. “But right now, I’ve still got my own problems to deal with.”

“That rogue changeling you mentioned?” Luna asked. “So you’re brand new as a Queen and you’ve already got somepony fighting against you?”

Shining Armor interrupted. “Before we go off to save the changeling race, Twiley, we should really go visit Mom and Dad.”

Twilight nodded, if a bit reluctantly, before she suddenly jerked her head back around to her older brother. “We?” She asked suspiciously. “What do you mean, ‘we’?”

Shining Armor gave his sister a look. “What, did you think that I’d let my little sister face whatever this changeling plans to throw at her alone?” Shining snorted. “Not a chance, little sis. The Crystal Empire will stand with you. But for now, we should visit our parents. They’ve been worried about you. I think everyone who knows you felt that... whatever that was a day ago.”